Bisher talks good game for Bucks

Miles Bisher has walked the competitive walk throughout his three-sport career at Bucksport High School.

He’s an all-conference soccer goalie, a varsity basketball player, and the starting first baseman for the top-ranked and defending Eastern Maine Class B champion Golden Bucks baseball program.

Bisher also is someone who clearly can talk the competitive talk, for he is by far the best among Eastern Maine’s dwindling baseball chattering class.

“You hear him all the time,” said Golden Bucks catcher Cam Wadleigh, known as “Cammy Faye” in Bisher’s rapid-fire lexicon. “Everything’s just kind of blurred together, but I guess it makes sense. He swears it makes sense.”

The nicknames aren’t confined to Cammy Faye. Bisher has a moniker for virtually everyone else, too, a personal introduction for each teammate en route to the batter’s box.

Shortstop Matt Jackson is “Action Jackson,” as in “Action Jackson, give me some satisfaction,” Bisher says. Outfielder Pat Dedmon is “Sticks,” “Ones” or “Snake Eyes,” reflecting the No. 11 on his jersey.

And third baseman Derek Fish is “Kazahuri Fishyssoise.” You figure that one out.

“I think it puts a smile on the batter’s face and gets him relaxed so he’s not putting as much pressure on himself when he’s batting,” said Bisher of the chatter, which becomes contagious throughout the Bucksport dugout during games. “It also gets us pumped up because when everyone’s supportive, positive thinking, positive actions and positive attitude equal positive results.”

Beyond the nicknames there is nonstop reinforcement, that one-of-a-kind cadence that brought nearly all baseball fields alive in generations past but has been replaced by the more pensive atmosphere of an athletic environment perhaps taken a little too seriously at times.

“Sometimes it’s just filler, as [Bucksport coach] Tiger [Stewart] would say, but I try to come up with rhymes,” Bisher said. “Just rhyme scheming, and then I just go with what comes to mind.”

What comes to mind could be anything.

“He loves to talk fast, and you can hear his voice over everyone,” said Bucksport outfielder Todd Freeman. “He’s one of the funniest guys I know, and it’s really a pleasure to be on the team with him.”

While there’s a humorous side to Bisher’s banter, there’s also a motivational element that speaks in its unique way to his leadership capacity.

“He’s come up with a few that just get me giggling,” said Stewart. “He’s good. He puts a lot into it, and he really enjoys himself. I always say to him, ‘baseball’s fun, you’ve got to have fun doing it,’ and he does.

“But he’s also the first one to get guys going, and to me that’s not just a bunch of chatter. That’s intensity, that’s getting guys into the game, and that’s important.”

For Miles Bisher, it’s just part of the game.

“I’m a lot about energy,” said Bisher, an honor roll student who will attend the University of Massachusetts next fall. “I have lots of energy, and before every game I kind of freak out on the bus listening to music to get some energy out and get the positive juices flowing.

“Once you let loose and let the energy go, I think that’s when you have the most fun because then you can concentrate on what you’re doing and focus. It just helps us relax, and we have fun.

“And that’s the most important thing for this team, not hitting the ball well or fielding the ball well but having fun. If we have fun, we can go places.”

Ernie Clark may be reached at 990-8045, 1-800-310-8600 or eclark@bangordailynews.net.